Thanks be to God

- and thank you for all your prayers.  We clearly need them!!

 

I have just checked the Air France website and it now says that the strike action which was going to affect us has been suspended!!  It looks as if we might get through France ok, which is a big relief.  

 

Industrial action called by French air controllers from July 02 to July 03, 2015

Update on June 28, 12:30 (Paris local time)

The first call for strike action issued by four French air controllers' unions from June 30 to July 01 has been suspended.

For the moment, the two others trade unions maintain their call for strike from July 02 to July 03.

Currently, negotiations are still going on between the involved parties. If this industrial action is confirmed, French Civil Aviation Authorities will give instructions to all airlines.

Accordingly to these instructions, we will adjust our flight schedule.

We will inform you soon and make our utmost to assist you to minimize the impact of this industrial action on your travel plans.

 

 

Sue

Will this Mad-venture happen?

We’ve just tried to check our seats on Air France flights and found:

Industrial action called by French air controllers from June 30 to July 03, 2015

Update on June 26, 21:00 (Paris local time)

A first call for strike action has been issued by four French air controllers' unions from June 30 to July 01 and a second call by two others trade unions from July 02 to 03.

Currently, negotiations are still going on between the involved parties. If this industrial action is confirmed, French Civil Aviation Authorities will give instructions to all airlines on Monday, June 29, early in the afternoon, for the flights planned on June 30.

Accordingly to these instructions, we will adjust our flight schedule.

We will inform you soon and make our utmost to assist you to minimize the impact of this industrial action on your travel plans.

We are due to arrive in Paris on an Air France flight on June 30, and leave a few hours later for Madagascar.  It will be very disappointing not to get to Mada after all the work we have done preparing.  Please join us in praying that we do (and preferably without hitches)!

Mad-venture 2015!

Earlier this week, we were told that the driver taking us from Antananarivo (Tana) to Toliara could not fit all the baggage (i.e. all those wonderful, donated supplies) into his latest vehicle.   

So after a few days of concern, we were mighty relieved this morning to hear that it is big enough - a Landrover Freelander 4x4 that can take all three people + 8 suitcases + 3 pieces of hand luggage. That brings a lot of peace to our minds about the week’s drive from Tana to Toliara. 

 

The next need is for Air Madagascar to allow Air France flights into Tana! 

  

Simon searched the internet this morning and discovered that the strikers at Air Madagascar have blocked an Air France flight from entering Tana:

http://www.coastweek.com/3736-latest-news-Air-Madagascar-staff-ambush-France 

 

We are flying Air France from Chicago O'Hare to Paris to Tana.  So here’s hoping and praying that we (with all our baggage) reach Toliara  in a smooth and uncomplicated fashion!!  

Sue

Plarn Sundays!

The folks of St James the Less, Northfield, seemed remarkably unfazed that I had arrived at church lugging a large black trash bag, and was recruiting them to spend the post-service coffee time cutting the tops and bottoms off a seemingly endless supply of plastic carrier bags.   Maybe they know I’m crazy and consider it safer to humor me!  Anyhow, a bunch of recruits duly processed several hundred carrier bags, so that Sue can have a supply of plarn for the crochet portion of her intended craft lessons in Toliara. 

Plarn?  It’s short for plastic yarn, and all kinds of things can be made with it – just Google “plarn” to see for yourself.  So far, Sue has designed several items, including holders for the iPhone 6.   Whether Malagasy women take to plarn, and what they will think to make with it, only time will tell.  But there must be something to be said for a free raw material, especially in poor countries.  If plarn becomes a sought-after resource, the world will look more picturesque without discarded plastic bags festooning thorn bushes. 

Why are we taking bags with us, when there are plenty adorning the roadsides?  At present, Todd and Patsy are in the USA, and thus not present to galvanize the people into collecting, washing and drying the plastic grocery bags.  Sue wanted to be sure she had some raw material to work with in class.

Cutting up the bags wasn’t exactly hard work, and it gave an opportunity to chat ... and the task would have taken Sue and I on our lonesome a positive age.   Moreover, it gave others an opportunity to learn more and get involved in the whole project of seeking to be of service to the people of Madagascar. It also meant we could recycle the unusable parts of the bags (handles and ends) while we are here in the States, rather than discard them in Madagascar.  The trimmed bags were then rolled up tight into bundles that will fit more readily into our baggage. 

To those of you who participated today: thank you.     Sorry you missed it?   Come to St James the Less, next Sunday (June 20th) at 9 a.m. to cut the remainder of the hoard!   If you can bring your own sharp scissors as well, that would be good, as some of the church’s are not that great.

Simon

Supplies abound!

We are thrilled with the response to our request for supplies - both from members of St James the Less and from members of the North Suburban NeedleArts Guild.  We weighed the boxes on Sunday to see if we could take all of it with us.  There are 4 suitcases worth of supplies  - 187 pounds weight! The people of the Diocese of Toliara will be so excited when they see it all - and will be very busy making things from it for a long time!

Thank you all!

Sue & Simon